Ghapt^:* II

organisation

The Army was most Important for the East Company. In fact, it was even more important than the Europeans. The was very cautious and careful while selecting the soldiers for the Army, because her power in India depended on the , The present study proposes to see how the Company organised its Army in Bengal, A perusal of the documents shows that the Amiy consisted of different branches of which the most important and distinguishiijg part was of the European and N ative description. The Army in Bengal Presidency consisted of different elements, but the distinct element was that of the Europeans and the Natives, Two kinds of troops were found in the European elements * first - Crown's Regiment and second was Company’s European Regiments, Although both belonged to the same nation, race and religion but they were discriminated in receiving the facilities and provisions. The real fact was that discrimination was the main policy for the progress of East India Company’s regime. The Company provided different facilities to the different groups for the same work. The Crdjwn* s Regiments were sent to India only forcertain period to serve in India and they were kept strictly as auxiliaries to the troops of the Company, But the Crown’s troops in India enjoyed more facilities by virtue of the 1 customs and traditions of the Army at home. 61

Economically the most exploited section of the East India Company’s Army was that of the Native troops. They were divided as regular, Irregular and Provincial troops. Regular Native troops got more facilities in coirparison to the irregular and Provincial troops. Extension of the territory resulted in the expansion of the Anny. But care was taken to employ additional forces which though efficient, but did not prove to be expensive. They were of two kinds j first it was the Local corps recruited from among the people in the newly acquired territory and they were confined to that area only. Secondly, there were the '’irregulars” in either case with a complement of three or at most four officers selected solely on account of their higher qualifications for a peculiar but every effective service. For regular Native Infantry they had appointed 23 officers. The division of the Bengal Army can be seen in the following chart:

Bs;

______5 ______II T " Crown’s itroops serving in India East India Company’s 9 troops Company’s European Native troops troops — j ------j ------j------Infantry Artillery Cavalry Local Corps J I Regular ______Regiaar Irregular fl I (mostly) (minority) Irregulars Regular (mo s tly (mino rity) 62

The Anry and Its work was the first breakaway of the Company from Its cominerclal origins. Its administrative organisation was the first to come into being - apart fr

Besides the above-mentioned departments under the Military Board, another Military department came into existence 4 about 1786, It was divided into two departments - the Militaiy Department of Inspection and the Secret and Military Department, The duties of the departments were more clerical than administrative, although each of them had a secretary as all important matters of policy and administration continued to be discussed and decided in the Governor General's Council. 63

5 In 17P3, the Military Department was abolished. In 1799 a thorough reorganisation of all the departments of the Govern­ ment took place, and the Mllltaiy Department was one of the four deparlanents of the government. Till 1819 the Military 6 Department continued to perform more or less clerical duties. The peculiar position occupied 1:^ the Military Department in the government of the countryvas proved by the fact that while the other departments of the governments ’ha d undergone radical change, the Military Department for long stood unchanged. Lord Dalhousie in 1853 effected a radical change in the constitution of the Department by splitting its work up among new departments such as the Ordnance, the 7 Commissariat and the Military Public Works, Military Board was made responsible for the administra­ tion of the Army which in each Presidency had been formed by the Court of Directors in 1786. But the Court of Directors made it clear that the Military Board did not intend to erect any Military authority in their setti. etnents in any degree Independent of the superior civil, executive government of the country as vested in the Board of Council, But it was pointed out that this Board was Immediately connected with the regularity, economic and the effective strength of the Army, Moreover, the Board could exercise its authority in all respects, Sveiy article of Military which involved expenditure would come under the purview of the Military Boards and shall be subject to revision and control. But the discipline of the Army, the distribution of the troops, the application of the force were exclusively vested with 64

8 the supreme government and the Coramander-ln-Chlef, The Military Board consisted of 1. Commander-in-Ghief, 2. The Senior Officer at the Presidency, 3. Senior Officer of the Artillery, 4. The Chief Engineer, 5. The Adjutant General, 9 6, The Quarter Master General, 7. The Conimlssiary-General 10 with one secretary and two assistant secretaries. The Court had directed that the senior Colonel Commanding a Brigade, shall be considered as the officer next in rank in Bengal to the Coimnander-in-Ghief in India and the second-in- command and shall not be permitted to a higher rank than that 11 of Colonel, The Board exercised control over the Ordnance Department, the Department of Public Works, including roads, bridges and civil and military buildings of every description, the canal and embarkment department, the commissiarate department, 12 the stud and the stationery department. The Military Board was reorganised in 1830 and consisted of the following members viz, the chief engineer, the commandant of Artillery, the Chief Magistrate of Calcutta, or other selected civil officers and two stipendiary Military members. The office establishment was consisted of one 13 secretary, an accountant, and two assistant secretaries. The government ordered in 1855, that all the public departments heretofore under the superintendence of the Military Board having been successively withdrawn therefrom, for the purpose of entrusting those departments, respectively, to the Individual and personal responsibility of one head, the Military Board would cease to exist from and after the 65

14 30th April 1855,

Military Areas and Goromanda The Bengal Presidency had its own specified Military area, which was further divided into Military commands when the Indian Army was reorganised in 1796, The Bengal Presidency was to consist of 6 General Officer Commands, four on the 15 Company's establishment and two on the King’s establishment. In 1S13, in the Bengal Presidency the following areas were under the Military commands j Benaras, , Dinapur, , 16 Sagur, and Shrihind, The number of divisional commands was fixed, and they were held by 2 King's officers and 5 Company's officers. There were some more Military Commands lower in status than the divisional commands. For example, in 3S33 Meerut, Calcutta, and Sirhind divisions were commanded by a Major General, whereas Eastern Frontiers, Mewar, Field Force, Rajputana Fi^d Force, , and , Malwa and Oudfe, Dum Dum, and Rohel Khand and were under 17 the command of the Brigadiers, 18 There were one or two Colonel's command also. In 1853, the Gwalior divisional command was reduced from that of a Major General to a Brigadier and Kanpur and Oudh divisions were amalgamated, A return of the number of officers in commands of divisions of the Army, subsidiary or field forces and of brigades or stations at each Presidency in 1832 is given below: 20 66

Presidencies No, of Officers No, of officers No, of officer in command of in command of of the second division subsidiary or class of field forces Brigadiers in command of Brigades or stations

Bengal 7 3 U Madras 5 4 7 Bombay 3 2 5

There were some cantonments as Meerut, Cawnpore,

Barrackpore, Dim Dum Garrison's, , Agra, and 21 Buxar (Invalid), After the annexation of , the Military Area of Bengal Presidency which stretched across the whole of northern India from Calcutta to the Afghan 22 frontiers was organised in seven divisional commands. The following revision in the divisional commands of the Army had been done by the order of the Commander-in-Chief in 1B52, The Benaras and Dinapur divisions were henceforward to be united. Dinapur was the Headquarters of the new division, 23 and Benaras became 2nd class brigade. The Punjab division was divided into two distinct commands to be designated as 24 the and divisions. The Jallandhar Field Force ceased to be a separate and independent command and Jallundar, Phiiiour, Makodely Kurtuii)ore and Hosiyarpore were transferred to the Sirhind Division, which would in future comprise the several stations as Hansi, L^dianah, Jattogh (Simla), Durshaie, Kussoulie, Subathoo, Umballah, 25 Phiiiour, Nakodah, Juiiundar, Kurturpore and Hoshiyarpore, 67

The Lahore division included all stations between the "Sutlege”, "Beas” and ”JhelxM” as also the station of Ferozepore, which was transferred from the Slrhind division, and comprised the several stations such as Lahore, Ferozepore, Govindgarh, Goordaspore, Mooltan, Sealkote, Wazeerabad, 26 Nooi^ore and Kangra. The Peshawar division included all the stations beyond the "Jhellum” comprising Rawalpindie, Jhellum, Attock, Ct- Koh0;:*t, Dera Ismael Khon, Murree and Peshawar,

The Structure of thQ^rsa: The had a Regimentsil system. The Battalions of Native Infantry were to be formed into Regiments of two battalions each, with ten companies in each battalion. The Regiment was to consist of one Colonel, two Lt, Colonels, two Majors, seven Captains, one Captain 28 Lt., 22 Lts, and ten Ensigns, 20 , 20 Jemadars, 100 Havildars, one hxmdred Naiks, 40 Drummers and fifers

2 9 and 1,600 privates - 22 Pukollies, The establishment of a battalion in 1758 consisted of 1 Captain, 2 Lts,, 2 Ensigns, 2 Serjeants, 3 Drummers, 1 Native Commandant, 10 Subedars, 30 Jemadars, 1 Native Adjutant, 10 Trumpeters, 30 Tum Turns, 30 80 Havildars, 50 Nalks and 6P0 Privates, Until the year 1757, it was the native commandant who either on parade or in action with the enemy, took post beside the East India Company*s officers. There was also a Native Adjutant to each corps, 28 men belonging to the first battalion of Bengal Native Army, which was raised in January 1757 by Clive were blown away from the mouth of cannon 68

31 by the order of Major Munro for a mutiny. There were two categories of the staff - first, Effective staff consisted of one surgeon, two assistant surgeons and 4 Native Doctors, two Sarjant Majors, two quarter-master serjeants (with staff allowances of Sonout Rs, 20 and 14 per mensem each.) and second. Non- effective staff consisted of one Adjutant and Quartermaster, two Adjutants, two drill Havildars, two drill Naiks, two 32 Drum Majors and two Pipe Majors, The European Officers of Regiments were to be posted to battalions as one Lt, Colonel, one Major, four Captains 33 (Captain Lt. as one), 11 Lts, and five Ensigns, Bach battalion will consist of two Grenadiers - one Light and seven Battalion companies. The light company was to be formed in every battalion of Native Infantry, In future it was to be considered as a fixed post of the 34 regular establisbment of each battalion. The Light company of every Battalion Native Infantry was to be the 35 1st or Colonel*s company in each battalion of a regiment. The Governor-General ordered that a Marine Battalion be formed into a Regiment of 20 companies of 90 Privates to each company. The promotions of the officers in the Marine Regiment shall proceed on the same principles as in the 36 regular Regiments of Infantry, The establishment of each battalion of the Marine Regiment shall be immediately 37 augmented to 8 Havildars, 8 Nalks and 130 Privates per company. The Lt, Colonel* s and Majors* companies in both the battalions were to be commanded by a Lieutenant with an 69

Ensign. The flank companies by a Captain with a Lieutenant, One battalion company was to be commanded by a Captain with an Ensign, one by a Lieutenant with an Ensign, and three by two Lieutenants each. In the other battalion two companies were commanded by a Captain with an Ensign, and three by 38 two Lieutenants each. The companies were numbered as beginning with the Colonels, and proceeding in succession with the field officers. Captains and Lieutenants. To the number of the company was added the rank and name of the field officers, Captain or Lieutenant as, for instance, the first (or Colonel A*s) company, the 4th (or Captain B*s) company, the 39 7th (or Lieutenants C* s) company. If the number of the European officers was not sufficient to furnish one to each company, the vacant company or companies were to be put under the charge of the senior officer — one 40 vacant company only to each officer, Upto the year 1796 the Native aB^ywas organised and maintained on a system totally distinct from that of the European force, and even then it was the most efficient body. In that year the first steps were taken to introduce the British system and since then departmental centralisation had gradually been introduced until the power of the commanding and other European officers was completely sapped and the practical efficiency of the 41 Army destroyed. The practice of conferring the command of a Regiment of Sepoys invariably on the senior Captain was liable to great Military objections. The aim was to stimulate military 70 men to extraordinary exertions. If seniority alone prevailed men with valuable professional talents would lose the initiative to hard work and the spirit of emulation. Consequently their qualities would lie dormant without any outlet. Of Course, in case of the candidates almost equally good in character and ability, seniority had a just claim to preference. But when superior Military qualifications were found in a junior officer, the public good required that he 42 should be encouraged and pushed up. Governor-General passed an order that a sergeant Major and Quarter Master sergeant be allowed to each battalion 43 of the Native Infantry, When sergeants were required for the native corps, applications were to be made through the Adjutant General to the Commander-in-Ghlef, who would either nominate them himself, or direct proper men to be selected from the European Battalions from which they can be most 44 conveniently supplied, A Drum and Fife Major was allowed to each Battalion of the Native Infantry. In native corps one Drummer and one 45 Fifer were to be attached to each company. Whenever Drummers or Fifers were required for any of the Native corps of the Army, application was to be made, in the first instance, to the company’s European Regiment and secondly to the secretary or the orphan society, and no natives were to be entertained as drummers and fifers until it was ascertained that the boys could not be supplied from the European Regiment or the 46 orphan establishment. 71

A man in each company of the Native Infantry was to act in the capacity of Pay Havildar and to receive Rs, 5/- 47 a month. Commander-in-Chief ordered, that subaltern officers WOft^ito sent on command with all detachments of the Native Infantry exceeding in nixmber half a company, whether such detachments were composed of men of different companies or 48 not. He again ordered that a Captain be invariably sent with every detachment of the Native Infantry which might exceed the strength of one company, and on every occasion on which service was likely to occur not even a single 49 company was to be detached without a Captain, In case of non-availability of the Captain/Subaltern who had actually served for 8 years in India would be 50 considered eligible to such commands. Order or discipline in all the troops depended on the officers who enforced it. The native officers were but too often remiss. It was therefore, recommended to the European officers to enforce command and obedience amongst them and to endeavour, by encouragement and good treatment to the active and punishing the remiss to make themselves keep in good 51 order and discipline among the sepoys. It appeared that the practice of drilling the Native commissioned and non-commissioned officers together still prevailed in some of the corps. That custom was strictly 52 prohibited in future. The drill Havildars and Nalks of corps were to be employed as instructors of the drill. Their proper dut^f 72

under the directions of the commanding officer of the corps and the immediate superintendence of the Adjutants, with the aid of such additional non-commissioned officers (NCOs) as might be necessary according to the numbers at drill, and the NGOs employed were to be relieved monthly, or at least every two months. Private sepoys were to be employed as seldom as possible as instructors at the drill, which could only be necessary from an occasional shortage of the NCOS, In such cases they were also to be relieved, 53 as directed for the additional NGOs. The Commander-in-Ghief had fixed the following details for the personal guards of the Native Infantry 54 who were to be relieved weekly.

Jema­ Havil- Dru­ dar dars Naiks mmers Sepoys

For a Major General commanding 1 2 2 2 32 a station For a Colonel of a Regiment, not 1 1 - 16 commanding a principal station Lt, Colonel commanding and 1 1 12 present with Regiment or Battalions of Native Infantry

For all other field officers or other officers in command of the corps, when in camp, a right sentinel is to be furnished from the rear guards of their respective 55 corps. 73

of sjj^h sattal^s Brigadier General Cotton had directed the formation of Sikh Battalion of 10 companies* strength as 10 Subedars, 10 Jemadars, 50 Havildars, 50 Nalks, 20 Buglers, 800 Privates, composed of all the Sikhs, Punjabee Mussalmans, and Pathans and those recruited from the different tribes of the Kangra hills, to complete the establishment, each class was to be separated into companies as follow?* 3 companies of Sikhs, 1 company of Rajpoots, 1 company of Punjabee Hindoos, 56 3 companies of P^njabee Mahomedans and 2 companies of Pathans,

Cn^SK.es -Organ The whole Bengal Native Infantry can be shown as sketches below. Bengal Native Infantry

Strength of Native Commands of Native Infantry Infantry Gov em o r- Gene ral Regiments Commander-In-Chief Battalions Divisional Commander Company Brigade Comipanders or Station Commander Regimental Commander Battalion Commanders Company Commander

The organisation of Bengal Native Infantry was started as back as in 1758, when a battalion had only 3 Army Officers, one Captain, one Lieutenant and one Ensign, wlx> acted as field 74 officers. They were assisted by a serj^s^nt Major and four serjeants. There was a Native commandant, who took post In front with the Captain and a Native Adjutant wlx) remained with subalterns. The battalion consisted of 10 companies, two of which were grenadiers. Bach company had a , three jemadars, five havildars (one of which was a colanrman), 57 4 naiks, two tom tomes, one trumpeter and 70 sepoys. The government in April 1764, ordered the battalions to be 58 niimbered according to the ranks of their Captains. The numbers of subalterns in each battalion was increased to 3 Lieutenants and 3 Ensigns, All battalion Tom Toms and 59 trumpeters were dismissed and drums and fifers substituted. In 1765, Lord Clive had divided the whole Army into three brigades. Each brigade was thus made a complete force by itself. The commanding officers of both the European and Native Infantry Battalions, who had hitherto been directly lander the Commander-in-Chief were placed under the Brigadiers 60 for close supervision. The Native Infantry establislnment was fixed at one Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 3 Sergeants, 3 Drummers, a Native Adjutant, 10 Trumpeters, 61 30 Drummers, 130 NCOs, and 6oo Privates, In 1766 various internal reforms and improvements were introduced in the regular brigades of the Army including the fonring and publishing of a code of regulations, together with a fixed standard of staff, contract and contingent allowance. The fonriation of three brigades gave a definite shape and assigned a particular duty to the Company*s whole army. Not only that the English troops were everywhere incorporated 75 with the Native troops but also the security and defence of the more distant districts were secured. Assemblage of the whole army In one place frequently caused the price of the provisions to rise, but this drawback was now avoided as the Directors held 63 that the new brigade structure was "a happy contrivance”. In 1773, there were 6 officers allowed to each battalion and Drums and Fifes were substituted for the Native music. 64 In 1775, the thai Gomicander-in-Ghief Sir John Clavering ordered for a complete renumbering of the Battalions, All the regular battalions were numbered consequently by brigades, beginning with the first brigade, which was to have the first seven numbers, down to the third brigade, which was to have 65 the last seven. From 1773 to 1781, no material change took place, when the whole army was divided into regiments and two battalions with 500 men to each and a Major to command each regiment, a Captain to command each battalion and one European officer to each company. There were 42 battalions of sepoys in 66 the Bengal Army, Great changes took place in its constitution and numbers. This became necessary because of the increasing strength of the Native Battalions from 21 to 35, Now two battalions formed one regiment having a strength equal to that of 5 companies viz, one 67 68 grenadier company and 4 battalion companies. This regiment was to be commanded by a Major (to be styled as Major Commandant) and each of its battalion by a Captain. There was effective and 69 non-effective staff of each battalion. Two Lt, Colonels were attached to the sepoy corps of each brigade. Several ' 76 regiments were numbered according to the present seniority of the battalion from which they were to be formed. The oldest of these battalions was to be the first regiment, the next was the 2nd on 70 and so in the same order. This system set the expanded battalion into an order and increased the strength of the Army officers. Gradually, the authority of the Native Officer was 71 decreased and the power of the Army Officer was increased. There was a new organisation in the year of 1785, The Court had directed to reduce the Military expenditure of the Presidency, The limit ’ was fiied to 18 regiments formed into 36 battsilions of 600 men each, commanded by a Captain having 72 under him 8 Lieutenants, one of whom was appointed Adjutant, There were 591 officers who commanded 26,000 men in the 73 proportion of nearly one officer to 50 men. And these 591 Military officers created the Empire for the East India 74 '75 Company, as compared to 30 regiments of two battalions each. Moreover, the battalions were equally distributed amoi^ 76 6 brigades. The old appointment of the Native Commandant was abolished 77 in 1781 and this resulted into great himiliatlon to the Native officers. An European Adjutant was appointed to each regiment and a Native warrant officer was appointed as Adjutant to each battalion. Two European NCOs were appointed as serjeant Major 78 and quarter master serjeant to each battalion. All these organisations had been guided by the considerations of convenience, and retained or broke up battalions according to their position or situation at the moment. Thus it happened that several fine old corps were broken up and ceased to exist T7

7 9 in an attempt to save the expenditure of the Company, The most important reorganisation took place in 1796, This was the greatest step after 1757, So many changes had heen introduced earlier but this was an uncomparable one. The Directors had directed that the battalions of the Native Infantry were to be formed into regiments of two battalions each with ten companies in each battalion. The Court had limited the strength of the Bengal Native Infantry to 80 12 regiments Each battalion consisting of 10 companies (2 Grenadiers and 8 companies) and each company of 2 Native commissioned officers, 10 non-commissioned officers and 81 80 privates as a peace establishment. The staff of Native Adjutant was not allowed, and therefore, no Native officer was to be so denominated under any pretence whatever. An European Adjutant was appointed to each battalion, and an 82 Adjutant and Quarter Master in one person to each regiment. To each battalion was allowed a serjeant Major, Quartermaster 83 serjeant, Drum and Fife Major, A Pay Havildar was appointed 84 to each company. The important changes thus introduced proved to be epoch-making in the interior history of the Bengal Army, The preceding forty years had seen the rise of the force from a handful of men anployed in emergency as a tentative measure to a large, well equipped and well-disciplined Army, From the history of forty years, two things were clear — first, the Directors used the Native soldiers as their tools, exploited them fully and humiliated them a great deal. On the commencement of war they raised huge Army, and after 78 concluding the war they disbanded It, The reorganisation was meant to minimise the strength of the Native soldiers. Secondly, they devaluated slowly and slowly the power of the Native Officers, In fact, they only wanted soldiers. To draw more soldiers, they had provided the rank of NCOs and Native commissioned officers. This was the best for the Native soldiers. But the Directors made that respectable post only an outwardly show, and reduced all the power and authority of the said officers. They had centralised all powers in the hands of the European Army Officers, They had appointed two European NGOs to check the power of the Native commissioned officers. The closing years of the iBth century were peaceful one In Bengal, but the rapidly Increasing influence of the British in the North West and the responsibilities which it involved together with the indication that yet another struggle was at hand in southern India, soon a f f o r d e d proof that the strength of the Army as fixed by the arrangements under the reorganisation of 1796, was insufficient, and that furtl^»er additions must be made. Before starting the war with the Marathas in 1803 and 1S04, they had greatly increased the Native Infantry, But as per the usual practice with the end of war the Governor-General ordered in 1806 that the regular battalioisbe reduced from 12 to 10 companies, Bach company was to consist of 85 1 Subedar, 1 Jemadar, 4 Havildars, 4 Nalks and 70 Privates, And the office of the Adjutant attached to the corps of the 86 87 Native invalids which was abolished was re-established. In 1S08 an important change was introduced into the 79 organisation of the Bengal Native Infantry viz. the formation of Light coHipanies, The Commander-in-Chief directed the 88 organisation of a Light company in each battalion, and later on, it was ordered that this company was in future to be considered a fixed part of each battalion. Thus each battalion was composed of 2 Grenadiers, 1 Light company sind 7 battalion 89 companies, Havildars of Light Infantrys were ordered to 90 carry Muskets instead of pikes. In 1814, the establishment of Native Infantry consisted of 27 regiments for Bengal, 22 regiments for Madras and 9i regiments for Bombay, Bach regiment consisted of 2 battalions and 1 Colonel, 2 Lt, Colonels, 3 Majors, 8 Captains, 14 Lieut­ enants and 6 Ensigns with Native commissioned and NCOs and privates as at present, The stage had now arrived for the second great reorganisation of the Bengal Native Infantry, The system, which had obtained for the last thirty years was swept away and a new order that was brought into force, remained unchanged for a further period of thirty years until destroyed by the events of the great revolution of 1857 or the first independence war (narrated by Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar) that gave birth to the present Army, The Directors had directed on 25th November 1823, that ”each of the existing Regts of the Native Inf shall be divided into two Regts with the following strength — i Col, (or Lt Col 92 commandant), i Lt Col, 1 Major, 5 Capts, 10 Lts, 5 Ensigns", 93 The rank of Captain Lt, had been abolished. 80

The existing battalions shall take precedence as Regiments upon the new establlslanents In the order In which they were originally raised whether previously or subsequently 94 to the arrangements of 1796, The numbering of the corps 95 after the reorganisation •

Increase in the Strength of Arm? Qfflcerg The Court of Directors had gradually increased the strength of the Army officers as the size of the Native Infantry increased.

In 1757 t On the fitst establishment of Sepoy corps in Bengal (1757) each battalion consisted of 10 companies with 1 Captain, -? 1 Lieutenant and 1 Ensign, only 3 'per battalion.

In 1773 I In 1773 the number of European Officers was 1 Captain, 3 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, total 7 per battalion.

In I7ftl t In 1781,.the regiments consisting of two battalions each were formed. And each regiment had 1 Major as commandant, 2 Captains (one to each battalion), 10 lieutenants (5 to each battalion) as total 13 officers to each regiment. Two European NCOs were appointed to each battalion as Serjeant Major and Quarter Master Serjeant. Bach battalion consisted of 5 companies of 100 rank and file.

Ip 1786 I In 1786, battalion of 8 companies each was formed with 1 Captain and 8 Subalterns, total 9 per battalion, and 6 battalions were formed into a brigade with one Colonel and one Major at the head of each brigade. 81

In 17Q6 t Bach regiment that was formed consisted of two battalions each and each battalion consisted of 10 companies* The complement of the European Officers for each regiment was fixed as follows: i Colonel, 2 Lt. Colonels, 2 Majors, 7 Captains and 1 Captain Lt., 22 Lieutenants, 10 Ensigns, 9b total 45 per regiment and 22 per battalion.

In 1R2Q s Bach regiment of two battalions had officers as 2 Colonels, 2 Lt. Colonels, 2 Majors, 10 Captains, 20 Lieutenants 97 and 10 Ensigns, total 46 per regiment.

In lj^44 t The Court had ordered for the strength of officers per regiment or battalion of all arms as l Colonel, 1 Lt. Colonel, 1 Major, 5 Captains, 10 Lieutenants, 5 Ensigns, total 23 officers.

Increase in the StrenRib_of Native El^.gitg The strength of each company fixed for the Native elements has been given below:

Years Subedar Jema­ Havil- Drummers Privates or dars dars Natks (Tomtom & Sepoys Trumpets)

1758 1 3 5 4 2+1 70 1826 1 1 5 5 2 8 0 ^ 1S43 1 1 5 6 2 90

In 1757 a battalion was commanded by a Captain, but it was commanded by a Colonel in 1826. Rank variation was done from Captain to Colonel for the Command. This had been done 82 for the welfare of the British citizen. But this was a narrow outlook about the whole organisation. There were only 3 officers for a battalion In 1757 but was Increased by eight-fold In ]J823, This was done because there was a lack of faith In the fidelity of the Native bravery. There was a Native conmiandant before 1757, but the post was later on abolished. Evidently It was not thought desirable to hard over any authority or power to the Native Officers. Their power was reduced. They were made to follow rather than lead. There were 1 Subedar and 3 Jemadsurs for each company In 1758 and 1 Subedar and 1 Jemadar In 1826 for each company. They had reduced their strength. It meant Injustice on the part of the Court of Directors. The Directors had created only one more rank In 1817, that was Subedar Major, One Subedar Major waa deputed for each regiment as one colonel for each regiment. They had created the rank for the officers upto Lt. General, but for the soldiers upto Subedar Major, The creativity for the formation of more ranks for the soldiers had dlsappearid. It showed that they were against the welfare of the Native Soldiers, Otherwise they would have Increased the strength of the Native Commissioned Officers In the same way. A Native Officer could not rise above the Insignificant pay of Rs, 174 a month. When in addition to this, it is still remembered that the lower ranks were liable for the most trivial offences to suffer corporal punishment. Flogging was abolished but was again introduced. Even when a commission was granted to a Native Officer he was still exposed to the harshness of his British superiors, whose habits of self-restraint, as the 83 court martial records of the time prove, were, but too little cultivated. Moreover, the consideration for the position of the Native officers as such was not much insisted upon from the British ranks whether commissioned or non-commissioned. When all these points were considered, it is only to be wondered that the Native Army displayed as much devotion and zeal in 101 times of emergencies as it undoubtedly did. They had created confusion between the Buropean NCDs and the Native commissioned officers regarding their status. Their duties had never been defined, viz, as to whether a Native officer, who had a commission shall be obliged to report to, or receive orders from a European, who had no commission or written authority, authorising him to command the Native 102 officers, European officers were partial to the Europeans and in some regiments the Native Officers were made to receive orders from the European Serjeants and in others they were not required to do so. If it was intended that the serjeants attached to the Native Corps were to command the Native Officers, they were furnished with the warrants empowering them to do so. If this was not intended that they should be invested with that authority, it was certainly improper to degrade the Native Officers, as was often done by making them report to a man holding inferior rank to them, merely because he was a European, It would create discontent among the 1 0 3 Native Officers, Although the Court had accepted the degradation and remarked that, ”the inevitable inference is that the advantages which formerly recommended our Military service to the Natives must have materially declined in their 84

104 estimation,” They had always demanded sacrifice and fidelity on the part of the Native soldiers on one hand, but on the other hand, they always made them fool and exploited their bravery, simplicity, character at the highest pitch. They had not only deceived the Indian princes and the people but also the Native soldiers. They had, however, realised that they could not build up the Empire in India without a strong army, which was impossible for U.K. to provide that Army from her own resources. This was a great development in the strategy of the Military history of the world. The re-introduction of single battalion and general re-organisation of 1824 closed another chapter in the history of Bengal Array, They had always reorganised the Army after concluding the war or in peace time. On the start of war, they greatly increased the Native troops and after concluding the war, they reduced them. Through reorganisation they played their trick. After 1824 they did not increase the strength of the Native troops, but again before the SDch War they increased the Native troops. In fact, they were master In their tactics. But we are all sorry as to why they did not use their mental capability to Improve the conditions of the Native Army in the field of education, economic and other fields. No doubt, in place of hate we have respect and love for their actions. The truth is that a nation can be recognized by its deeds only, not by its defeat or win. This is a temporary gain or achievement. 85

The need of the officers in the Native Army was not only confined to organising the Army but also as Sir John Malcolm observes ”that it is not for the parade and drill of a corps but they are much required in the Native Infantry. A good commanding officer and staff, with Junior Officers will bring a Native corps into full as high order as if the whole complement of senior officers were present, and only 106 good and efficient officers are required,” 8 6

Chapter II

organisation

No te s 'i 1 Major Madan Paul, op, c lt,, pp. 23-24. 2 Banerjee, P,D,, History of the M: M ilitary Department Press, Calcutta, l^Ol, Huthnaswamy, M., Some Ipfluence that_made the B ritish MalBlstrat^■ve System in India. 1Q36-37. Madras, Pp. 156; 4 Ib id . 5 Ib id . 6 Ib id . 7 Ib id . 8 Military letter from Court, 21 September 1785, No. 3 and No, 8. 9 Ib id . 10 P.ay .and Audit J^sgulatlon, Calcutta, 1849, Section XXIV, para 57, 11 Military letter from Court at Fort William, 11 A p ril 1785, No. 8 , p. 45. 12 e.az..,aa4 MXX op, cit., section XXIV, para 58, 13 GOGG, 26th November 3S30, No. 241, 14 GOGG, 9th February 1855, No. 212. 15 PP, Vol. 90, p. 283. Commons 80 of 1863. 16 M ilitary Map of India, Minutes of Evidence, PP, Vol. 13, p. 1, Comrons 735 V of 1832. 17 United Service Journals 1833. Pt. I,, London, 1853, p. 570. IS Ib id . 19 PP V o l. 50, p. 211, Commons 467 of I860, 87

2 0 Synopsis of the evidence taken before the Select Gonmlttee In relation to the Army of India. 1832. p. 49. The numbers fixed by the orders of the Court of Directors In their M ilitary Despatch to the Supreme Government of the 25tb November 1823 and as again established by them In the orders to the Government of Bombay, dated 8th February 1832, 21 Ibid., p, 346. Reply of Lt. Col, Baker, 21 February 1832, 22 Michael, Edward, Battles of Indian Mutiny. London, 1963, p. 23, 23 Standing Order 1862, p, 22, 24 Ib id , 25 Ib id , 26 GOCC, 5th July 1852, 27 Ib id . 28 Minutes of Council, 30th Fay 1796, 29 Ib id . 30 Calcutta Review. Vol. 89, No, 178, 1889, p, 288, 31 Walter Badenanch, Bnauirv into the State of the Indian ^mv with Suggestions^for its Improvement pp. 140-41, ~ ’ 32 GOGG, 21st May 1807, 33 GOGG, 10th June 1796, 34 GOGG, 2pth August 1808, 35 GOGG, 13th September 1808, 36 GOGG, 6th May 1802, 37 GOGG, 24th October 1809, 38 GOGG, 10th June 1796. 39 GOGG, 10th June 1796, 40 GOCC, 15th September 1798 and 29th June 1796 8 8

41 Calcutta Review. Vol. 33, No. 65, 1859, p. 205* 42 Minutes of Council, 20th April 1787. 43 Minutes of Council, 30th l^ay17P6, 44 GOGG, 7 th July 1783. 45 Minutes of Council, 22nd August 1796, 46 GOPC, 2nd September 1807. 47 Minutes of Council, 20th June 1796, 48 GOCC, 24th May 1793. 49 GOCC, 25th August 1806. 50 GOPC, 4th A p ril 1807. 51 Minutes of Council, 3rd August 1779. 52 GOGG, 7th Anrll 1791. 53 GOCC, 18th February 1808. 54 GOCC, 25th November 1806. 55 Ib id . 56 GOCC, 22nd September 1857. 57 Capt. Williams, op. c it., pp. 2-3* 58 Ibid., pp. 6-7. 1. Capt. Giles Stibbert 2. Capt. M. Lean 3. Capt. Hugh Grant 4. Capt, Campbell 5, Not given 6. Capt. Trevanion 7 . Capt. Brovm 8 . Capt. William Sm 9 . Capt. P. G a llie z 10. Capt. Iron Side 11. Capt, James Morgan 12. Capt. John White 13. Capt. Swinton 14. Capt. Hampton 15, Capt, Stab les 16, Capt, Scotland 17. Capt. Goddard 18. Capt, Don 59 Capt, Williams, op. clt., p. 9. 60 Ibid,, p, 533. 61 Cardew, op, cit., p. 30. 62 Ibid., p. 34. 89

63 Ninth Report of the Committee of Secrecy. 1773. H.G., pp. 559-60. 64 Badenach, op, c lt,, p. 142, 65 Gardew, op, clt,, p. 39, 66 Badenach, op, clt,, p, 142, 67 Minutes of Council, 26th December 1780, One Grenadier company to c o n s ist o f: 1 Lie u te n a n t, 1 Subedar, 2 Jem adars, 5 H a v lld a rs , 5 N a lk s, 2 Drummers and F lf e r s , 1 Trumpetere and 90 Sepoys, 68 Ibid, One battalion company to consist of* 1 Lieutenant, 1 Subedar, 2 Jemadars, 5 Havlldars, 5 Nalks, 1 Drummer, 1 Trumpetere and 90 Sepoys, 69 Ibid, 1 Serjeant Major, l D rill Serjeant, 1 Quarter Master Serjeant, 5 Sircars and Surgeons, 2 Native Doctors (A ll effective), 1 Native Adjutant to be a Jemadar, 1 Havlldar Major (a ll non-effective), 70 Ib id . 71 B a ra l, AnZ-'-a,

______L 3 Calcutta, 1^2, p. 39. 72 Synopsis of the Evidence Taken before the Select CQirimlttee in Relation to the Army~of India, 1832, p. 59i 7 Reply of Col. Pennington, C.B,, dated 7th March 1S32. 73 Letter to Bengal, 21 September 1785, Vol. 14 (Despatches), 74 Ib id . 75 Baral Amlya, op, clt,, p. 39, 76 Letter to Bengal, 21 September 1785, Vol. 14 (Despatches), Sach brigade having one Colonel, 2 Lt, Colonel, and two Majors, There were, therefore, in the Bengal Army as formed in 1786. 7 Colonels, 15 Lt, Colonels, 15 Majors, 90 Captains, 16 Capt, Lts., 386 Lieutenants, and 62 Ensigns or Light fire workers. Total 591 officers, exclusive of general staff, 77 Cardew, op, clt,, p. 54. 78 Capt. Williams, op. clt., p. 196. 79 Cardew, op, clt,, p. 68, 90

80 M ilitary Letter from Court, 15th January 1796, Bach Regiment consits of : 1 Colonel. 2 Lt, Colonels. 2 Majors, 7 Captains, 1 Capt. L t ., 22 Lieutenants, 10 E n sig n s, 2 Serjeants, 20 Subedars, 20 Jemadars, 100 H a v ild a rs, 100 N a ik s , 40 Drums and F i f e s , 1,600 Privates, (1,800 Privates for Madras and Bombay), 20 Puekallies, Staff - 2 Adjutants, l Pay Master, 1 Serjeant Major, 1 Quarter Master Serjeant, 1 Drum Major, 1 Fife Major, 2 D rill Havildars, 2 D rill Naiks (All non-effective), 1 Surgeon, 2 Mates, 2 Native Doctors (All effective), 81 Capt. Williams, op. cit,, p, 242, 82 Ibid., p, 244. 83 Minutes of Council, 30th May 1796. 84 Capt. Williams, op, cit., p, 243. 85 GOGG, 24th April 1806. 86 GOGG, 16th June 1797. 87 GOGG, 16th October 1806. 88 GOGG, 12th April 1808, 89 GOGG, 29th August 1808, 90 GOCC, 10th November 1808, 91 Military Letter from Court, 8th November 1814, 92 M ilitary Letter from Court, 25th November 1823, 93 GOCC, dated 9th January 1819. 94 M ilitary Letter from Court, 25th November 1823, 95 Cardew, op. cit., p, 143. Old N\:^mber? New Numbers

iqisTi t ttegx. 2nd Regt,Regt,

2nd Refft«egt, 22nd RRegt, egt, _ , „ . 1s t Bn, 6th Regt. 3rd Regt, 2nd Bn, I 9th Regt,

44thxa Reet«egt. 2nd Bn, 23rd ®®^t,Regt. 91

Old .Nimkerg New Numbers

5th Regt, 1st Bn. n t h Regt. 2nd Bn, 20th Regt.

6th Regt. 1st Bn. 3rd Regt, 2nd Bn. IBth Reg it. 1st Bn. 13th Regt, 7 th Regt. 2nd Bn. 10th R egt. 1 st Bn. 9th Regt, 8 th Regt. 2nd Bn. 24th Regt.

9 th Regt, 1st Bn. 8th Regt, 2nd Bn, 2 1 st Regt, 1st Bn. 14th Regt, 10th Regt, 2nd Bn. 16th Regt, 1st Bn, 15th R egt, nth Regt. 2nd Bn. 17th Regt,

12th Regt, 1st Bn, 12th Regt. 2nd Bn, 1 st Regt.

13th Regt. 1st Bn, 26th Regt. 2nd Bn. 27th R egt,

14th Regt. 1st Bn. 28th Regt. 2nd Bn, 29th Regt.

15th Regt. 1 st Bn, 30th Regt. 2nd Bn, 3 1 st Regt, 16th Regt, 1 st Bn, 32nd Regt, 2nd Bn, 33rd Regt,

17th Regt, 1 st Bn, 34th Regt. 2nd Bn, 35th Regt,

18th Regt. 1st Bn, 36th Regt, 2nd Bn, 37th Regt,

19th Regt. 1st Bn, 38th R egt, 2nd Bn. 39th Regt,

20th Regt, 1s t Bn, 28th Regt, 2nd Bn, 40th Regt.

2 ls t Regt. 1st Bn, 41st Regt, 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt. 92

Old Numbers New Numbers 1st Bn. 43rd Regt, 22nd Regt, 2nd Bn. 44th R egt. 23rd Regt, 1st Bn, 45th R egt. 2nd Bn, 46th Regt. 24th Regt. 1 st Bn, 47th R egt, 2nd Bn 48th Regt, 25th Regt. 1st Bn, 49th Regt, 2nd Bn, 50th Regt, 26th Regt, 1st Bn. 5 is t R egt, 2nd Bn, 52nd Regt, 27th Regt. 1 st Bn, 53rd R egt, 2nd Bn, 54th Regt. 28th Regt, 1 st Bn. 55th Regt. 2nd Bn, 56th Regt.

29th Regt, 1st Bn, 57th Regt. 2nd Bn. 58th Regt.

30th Regt, 1st Bn, 59th Regt. 2nd Bn, 60th Regt. 3 1 st Regt. 1st Bn, 6 is t Regt. 2nd Bn, 62nd Regt, 1 st Bn, 63rd Regt, 32nd Regt. 2nd Bn, 64th R egt, 33rd Regt, 1st Bn, 65th Regt, 2nd Bn, 66th Regt, 34th Regt, 1 st Bn. 67th Regt, 2nd Bn. 68th Regt.

96 M ilitary Letter from Court, 25th November 1823. 97 GOGG, 6th May 1824, No, 129,9 98 Military Letter from Court, 3rd July 1844, No, 22, 99 M ilitary Letter to Court, 16th June 1826. 100 GOGG, 17 February 1843, No, 37, 101 Cardew, op, c it., p, 144, 102 Badenach, op. cit., p. 143. 93

103 Ibid., p, 144. A Jemadar, who was the chief Instigator of the mutiny on Java, with the intent to get himself appointed to the comicand of the Island, A dispute with, and refusal on his part to obey a Ser;Jeant Major, led to his being dismissed from the service, however he was afterwards reinstated by order of the Court of Directors. And althoiigh he behaved very gallantly on several subsequent occasions, yet the real or imaginary degradation he had received at the hands of a Serjeant Major, rankled in his mind and urged him on to his diabolical attempt. 104 Military letter from Court, 28th May 1828, 105 Beport of the Special Comrnlssjon appointed bv His Sgcellencv the Governor General in Council to esa\gre_^.t9. the arg,arii5,atl.gr) exp.^nditmig of the Anriv in India. Simla. 1879, p. LXII,